Portable apparatus



.n. c.. BLAuvELT PORTABLE APPARATUS. Fuga April 12,'.1945

Patented Aug. 27,( 1946 PORTABLE APPARATUS Ralph C. Blauvelt, Lakewood, Ohio, assgnor Vto Zenith Radio Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Application April 12, 1943, Serial No. 482,676

This invention relates to portable electrical ap-V paratus, and more particularly to such apparatus which may conveniently be carried about upon the person for the reproduction of sound.

In an electric hearing aid it is necessary to replenish the electric batteries which furnish its operating current at periods which are lengthened by carefully controlled use of the hearing aid, and which are shortened when the user forgets to turn 01T the operating current of the hearing aid, as at times when he removes the hearing aid from his person'.

Frequentchanging of batteriesis very costly, an annoyance, and at times the person may be deprived of the use of his hearing aid without much warning. This is especially so when the batteries are allowed to energize the hearing aid during the time the user is sleeping. Frequently one forgets to turn oi his hearing aid at the time when one undresses and is later embarrassed to und his battery in a poor and weakened, or a completely discharged, condition. One tends to be more forgetful as one becomes tired and there are frequent instances where one is quite forgetful when one retires for the night, bathes or changes clothes. It is therefore of importance that all precautions be taken to insure long battery life not only when the hearing aid is in use but also when the hearing aid is in a condition of non-use and should be deenergized.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved hearing aid wherein the batteries are conserved.

Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved electrical apparatus with means for conserving the life of the power supply associated with such apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved electrical apparatus with means for energizing or deenergizing the apparatus depending upon the position of the. apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved housing for a hearing aid and like apparatus whereby a longer life of the associated batteries is assured.

Another object of this invent/ion is to provide a position responsive hearing aid.

Another object of this invention is to provide position responsive hearing aid apparatus which assures a deenergization of the apparatus when the apparatus is placed in a non-use position.

`Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved means in a hearing aid where- 20 Claims. (Cl. 179-,107)

bythe hearing aid is deenergized when it is removed from operating position on the person.

The features of my invention which I believe to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My inventionitself, both-as to its organization and manner of operation,Y together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection With the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of a portion of a hearing aid apparatus embodying my invention;

Figure 3 is a View in elevation of the principal parts of an alternative form of hearing aid embodying my invention;

Figure 4 is a View in elevation of a radio receiver embodying my invention;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 6 shows the internal portion of the apparatus of Figure 2; and

Figures 'l and 8 show alternative forms of switches like that shown in Figure 5.

In Figure 1 there is shown a hearing aid circuit including a microphone II'! connected between the main control grid and cathode of the pentode type amplifier device II. Resistance I8 connected in parallelto microphone I serves to provide a connection for flow of continuous current between grid and cathode of amplier device II. Amplied signals appearing across resistance 22 connected between the anode of device Il and the positive terminal of source Il of operating potential are applied to the main control grid of pentode type amplifier device I2 through capacitance 23. The negative terminal of source I1 is connected through switches 26 and 2l to the cathode of device I I. A resistance I9 is connected between the main control grid and cathode of amplifier device I2 to provide a path for continuous current therebetween.

Amplified signals appearing across resistance I9 are further amplified by ampliiier device I2. The output circuit of amplier device I2 comprises serially connected resistance I4 and source Il, sound reproducing device I3 being connected in parallel to the resistance I4 through a voltage dividing connection whereby any desired fraction of the voltage appearing across resistance I4 may be applied to sound reproducing device I3.

Capacitances 24 and 25, connected between thel Vscreen electrodes and cathodes, respectively, of

amplifier devices II and I2, serve as a low impedance path for high frequency current flow between the screen electrode and cathode of each amplifier device.

Inductance 5, connected in parallel to the voltage dividing resistance I4, serves as a low resistance path for the flow of the continuous current component of anode current in amplifier device I2 and as a high impedance for currents of voice frequency.

The filamentary cathodes of amplifier devices I I and I2 are connected in parallel with one another and are heated by current flowing from source I6 of filament current through switches 25 and 21.

Source I1, which is a dry cell type battery and is connected in series through resistances 29, 2|, 22, I4 and inductance I5 between the anode and cathode of each of the amplifier devices II and I2, supplies discharge current to those amplier devices through switches 25 and 21 and through source I5.

The screen electrode of amplifier device II is connected through voltage dropping resistance to the positive terminal of source I1. whereby it is supplied with discharge current. screen electrode of amplifier device I2 supplied with discharge current through voltage dropping resistance 2| from the positive terminal of source I1. These two screen electrodes are maintained at cathode potential for alternatingr currents by capacities 24 and 25, respectively.

Opening of either switch 25 or 21 causes the hearing aid to be deenergized. Switch 25 is a manually operated switch and switch 21 is a nosition responsive switch. The various position responsive switches disclosed herein are represented in the circuit in Figure 1 by the switch 21. capacitances 24 and 25 have a relatively low resistance, it may be desirable also to open the circuit of the battery I1 in order to prevent undue leakage through the series circuit comprising battery I1, resistance 20, 2|, capacitance 24. 25, the two iilamentary cathodes. and battery I6. Except for such leakage current through condensers 24 and 25, which is generally negligible, no discharge current ows when the filament circu-its are opened rby either switch 2S or 21.

A tone control is also provided in the hearing aid circuit, Figure 1. The tone control comprises a plurality of capacitances 19 and 1I, each of diierent magnitude and each of which may be connected in parallel with grid input resistance I9 by actuating the selector switch 46.

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of a portion of the hearing aid apparatus when in onerating position. A portion of the housing 28 is broken away so as to disclose mercury switch 29 with electrode 3D in circuit closing position. The other electrode is identical to electrode 39, but being back of electrode 30 is obscured thereby. Clip 3| is fastened to housing 28 and is adapted to engage wearing apparel of the user. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, a position responsive switch, such as mercury switch 29, is mounted in the housing 28. rlhis is preferred because housing 28 is usually carried above the hips of a person and thus is subjected to the least amount of movement from a vertical or circuit closing position while the hearing aid is in use.

Figure 3 shows my hearing aid apparatus in operative position for amplifying sound impinging on a microphone III (Fig. 1) mounted in housing 28 in a recess Ia in chassis 10 (Fig. 6).

In some situations, for instance, where thel Similarly, the

The lbatteries for energizing the hearing aid are enclosed in a housing or pack 32 having a rounded outer bottom surface 33. A portion of the battery housing 32 is broken away to show a mercury switch 34 which may be utilized instead of the position responsive switch 29 of Figure 2. When switch 313 in battery pack 32 is utilized, the switch 29 in housing 28 may be omitted, but since the battery pack 32 is usually carried below a persons hips a position responsive switch in housing 28 is preferred over the utilization of such a switch in battery pack 32. All of the elements shown in Figure l are, in the modification of Figure 3, housed in housing iisave the batteries I6 and I1, position responsive switch 3d and reproducer I3. The battery pack or housing 32 has a rounded outer bottom surface 33 so as to assure that the pack 32 assumes a circuitl opening position for mercury switch 313 when the housing 32 is removed from the person and placed upon a dat surface, such as a table top or the like.

Connecting wires or leads 35 and 36 of sound reproducing element I3 and batteries I6 and I1, respectively, are connected with the amplifier unit in housing 28 by connecting plug 31, which is detachably secured by conventional means in plug opening 3B in housing 28 with a portion of the plug protruding as shown in Figure S.

It is readily seen that when plug 3l' is inserted in the housing 28 a portion of the plug 31 projects and provides assurance that a position responsive switch similar to switch 29 shown in Figure 2 will assume an open circuit position when housing 28 is placed upon a flat surface such as a table top or the like. The housing 28 is provided with rounded portions to further assure an assumption of the open circuited position of switch 21 when the housing 28 is placed upon a flat surface.

Figure 4 shows a portable pocket size radio receiver 39 having more or less conventional circuits but being without batteries and sound reproducing unit and having plug openingl i9 adapted to receive plug 31 with leads 315 and 36 of the apparatus shown in Figure 3. A pocket holding clip 4| similar to pocket holding clip 3| maintains the apparatus in upright and circuit closing position when a mercury position responsive switch is mounted therein in the manner shown in Figure 2. It is readily seen that such a radio receiver 39, as well as other portable electric apparatus, may be utilized with my invention in the same way as the hearing aid unit in housing 28.

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the mercury switch shown in Figure 3. The electrical switch contacts 42 and 43 are bridged by mercury 44. Annuler ring shaped member 55 prevents undue splashing of the mercury and consequent switch opening when the person carrying the hearing aid in operative position walks, runs or moves suddenly.

Figure 6 shows the operating unit chassis 'I0 removed fronr housing 28 (Fig. 2) and includes mounting arrangements for pentode amplifier devices |I and I2, position responsive mercury switch 29, microphone recess Iila, volume control M, on-off switch 2E, a tone control switch 46, inductance I5, and associated resistors and capacitors, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7 shows a modified form of position responsive switch. The switch contacts 50 and 5I are bridged by a flexible metallic member 52, which is held at one end in a projection 53 forming part of housing 2B, and which carries a Weight 54 at the other end. This pendulum type switch is shown in circuit closing position. As the upper end of housing 28 is rotated clockwise about itsv lower end, contact 50 becomes separated from contact with flexible member 52; and, as the upper end of switch housing 28 is rotated counter-clockwise about its lower end, iiex- .ible member 52 becomes separated from both contacts 5i) and 5l. In either case the switch shown in Figure 7 will be in open circuit position whenever the housing 28 is displaced from the vertical position shown in Figure 7.

Figure 8 shows another pendulum type switch which is a further modication of the position responsive switches heretofore disclosed. In this switch the electrical contact members 60 and 6I become separated when the housing 28 is displaced from the vertical position shown, due to displacement of the pendulum 64 about pivot 65. Cross member 66 havingv friction means thereon such as an indentation or raised portion 61, in cooperating relationship with a projection or indentation on pendulum 64, maintains the contacts 60 and 6l in contact for slight variations of the housing 28 from the normal vertical position shown.

It is to be particularly noted that the battery housing 32 in Figure 3 is purposely made with a rounded bottom surface 33 in order that the housing when placed on a flat surface such as a table top or the like will assume a position corresponding to the electrical circuit opening position. It is also to be noted that the same result is produced when the housing 28 contains a position responsive switch similar to switch 2'9 and is placed on a iat surface, since the bottom rof housing 28 is rounded and further since plug 31 (Fig. 3) protrudes from the bottom of housing 28.

As seen from Figures 3 and 4, this invention is not only useful with portable, wearable hearing aids, but also is useful with wearable apparatus for the reception of radio waves and their reproduction. Thus, this invention may be applied to any wearable electric apparatus where it is desirable to conserve the life of the batteries. It is however preferred in wearable hearing aid devices and finds great use in such devices.

The position responsive switches disclosed herein are shown in various portions 0f the portable electrical apparatus shown in the drawings. Other dispositions of the position responsive switches are readily suggested in view of this disclosure. For instance, Athe mercury switch 29 may be mounted on the sound reproducing unit I3 or one one or more of the leads 35 and 35.

While I have shown and described the particular embodiments of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modications may be made without departing from my invention in its broader aspects, and I, therefore, aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

l. In combination, a hearing aid having a small, wearable case enclosing a microphone, a receiver, flexible leads only extending between the case and receiver, and means responsive to the orientation of said hearing aid case with respect to earth and independent of the position of said receiver for energizing said hearing aid.

2. In combination, a hearing aid having a small, wearable case enclosing a microphone, a receiver, means for energizing said hearing aid for the reproduction of sound, and means independent of the position of the receiver and responsive to the orientation of said hearing aid case with respect to earth for deenergizing said i hearing aid in spite of said rst means.

3. In combination, a hearing aid having a small, Wearable case enclosing a microphone connected with an electrical circuit, a receiver, and means independent of the position of the receiver and responsive to the orientation of the hearing aid with respect to earth for interrupting said electrical circuit.

4. In combination, a hearing aid having a small, wearable case enclosing a microphone, a receiver, iiexible leads only extending between said case and receiver, and an electrical switch mounted in said case and responsive to the orientation of the hearing aid case with respect to earth, whereby said switch may be actuated without moving said receiver.

5. In combination, a hearing aid having a small, wearable case enclosing a microphone, said case being normally worn on the person with a predetermined orientation with respect to earth, a receiver, flexible leads only extending between said case and receiver, an electrical switch mounted in said case and responsive to the orientation with respect to earth of the hearing aid, means for holding said switch in circuit closing posii 1 tion when the hearing aid is-worn in normal operative position, and means on said case for allowing tipping of said case over to a position other than said operative position when the hearing aid case is placed upon a flat surface in operative condition, whereby said switch may be actuated without moving said receiver.

6. In combination, a hearing aid, position responsive means carried on the hearing aid for energizing said hearing aid, a small wearable housing for said hearing aid, a receiver, flexible leads only extending between said receiver and housing, and means on said housing for allowing tipping of said housing over to place said hear-V ing aidin an inoperative position when the hearing aid is placed upon a flat surface in operative position, whereby said position responsive means may be actuated independently of the position of said receiver. f

7. In combination, a hearing aid housing havling a rounded outer surface, a receiver, 'iiexible leads only extending between said receiver and housing, and means independent of movement of said receiver and responsive to an orientation of vsaid housing with said rounded outer surface at a lower extremity of said housing for energizing the electric circuit within said hearing aid hous- 8. In hearing aid apparatus, a hearing aid housing having a rounded outer surface, a receiver, exible leads only extending between said receiver and housing, means for energizing the hearing aid, and means independent of movement of said receiver and responsive to any orientation of said housing, except that with said rounded outer surface down, for deenergizing the hearing aid in spite of said energizing means.

9. In combination, a small, wearable hearing aid case and a small, wearable battery associated therewith, a receiver, and means independent of movement of said receiver and responsive to the orientation with respect to earth of said hearing aid for disconnecting said battery from said hearing aid.

10. In combination, a small wearable hearing aid housing carrying a lower projecting portion,

a receiver, fiexible leads only extending between said housing and receiver, and means independent of movement of said receiver and responsive to orientation of said housing with said projecting portion other than downward for de-energizing the hearing aid in said housing, said projecting portion assuring an assumption of a position other than an operative position with said projecting portion downward when the hearing aid housing is placed upon a flat surface.

l1. In combination, a small, wearable hearing aid housing, an electrical switch mounted on and responsive to the position of the hearing aid housing, a receiver, flexible leads only extending between said receiver and housing, means for holding the housing and switch in circuit closing position when the hearing aid is carried in normal operative position, and means on said housing assuring assumption of a position other than said operative position whenever said housing is placed upon a substantially flat surface regardless of the position of said receiver.

i2. In combination, a small, wearable electrical apparatus for reproduction of sound, a sound reproducing device, leads connecting such sound device to said apparatus, a small wearable housing enclosing said apparatus, and means responsive to the orientation of said housing and independent of the position of said reproducing device for rendering said electrical apparatus effective.-

13. In combination, a small wearable electrical apparatus for reproduction of sound, a sound reproducing device, leads connecting such sound device to said apparatus, a small wearable housing enclosing said apparatus, means for rendering said apparatus effective for the reproduction of sound, and means responsive to the orientation of said housing and independent of the position of said reproducing device for rendering said last mentioned means ineective.

la. In combination, a small, wearable portable electrical apparatus for the reproduction of sound, a sound reproducing device, leads connecting such sound device to said apparatus, a small wearable housing enclosing said apparatus, an electrical circuit incorporated in said housing, and means responsive to the orientation of the apparatus and independent of the position of said reproducing device for interrupting said electrical circuit.

15. In small wearable portable electrical apparatus, a small wearable housing for said apparatus, a sound reproducing device, leads connecting said apparatus to said device, a battery, means for energizing said apparatus with current from said battery, and position responsive means in said housing independent of the position of said reproducing device for rendering said first mentioned means ineffective.

16. In combination, small wearable electrical apparatus, means for energizing said apparatus, a small wearable housing enclosing said apparatus, a sound reproducing device, leads connecting said reproducing device to said apparatus, and

. 8 v means responsive to thev position of said housing and independent of the position of said reproducing device for rendering the first mentioned means ineffective.

17. In combination, small wearable portable electrical apparatus for reproduction of sound, an amplifier device having a cathode and an anode, a small wearable housing enclosing said apparatus and ampliier device, a sound reproducing device, leads connecting said reproducing device to said apparatus, a source for supplying heating current to the cathode, a source for supplying current to the anode, and a single switch actuated in response to the position of the housing for rendering at least one of said sources ineiective, and means vrfor delaying the opening of said switch when the position of the housing is changed gradually.

18. In combination, small wearable portable electrical apparatus for the reproduction of sound, an electrical circuit incorporated in said apparatus, a mercury switch, a small wearable housing enclosing said apparatus, circuit and mercury switch, a receiver, flexible leads only extending between said receiver and housing, said switch being actuated in response to the position of the housing and independent of the position of said receiver for interrupting said electrical circuit, and time delay means allowing operation of the mercury switch only after a limited time when the position of the apparatus is changed gradually whereby said switch operates with time delay and independently of the position of the receiver.

19. In combination, a small wearable portable electrical apparatus for the reproduction of sound, an electrical circuit incorporated in said apparatus, a pivotally mounted weighted member, a small, wearable housing enclosing said apparatus, circuit and weighted member, a sound reproducing device, leads connecting said reproducing device to said apparatus, said weighted member being pivotally mounted in the housing such that the relative position of said member with respect thereto is determined by the position of the housing, and electrical contacts movable with the weighted member for interrupting the circuit.

20. In combination, a small, wearable electrical apparatus for the reproduction of sound, an electrical circuit incorporated in said apparatus arranged to supply current to said apparatus, a switch in said electrical circuit arranged to interrupt the current flow to said apparatus, a small, wearable housing enclosing said apparatus, circuit and switch, the operation of such switch being responsive to the orientation of said housing with respect to earth, and time delay means associated with said switch for allowing an interruption of said electrical circuit only a short time after said housing is moved to a position corresponding to circuit opening position, whereby said switch has a delayed action.

RALPH COE BLAUVELT. 

